Carrier for small-arms fixed ammunition.



No. 722,123. PATLNTLD MAR. s, 190s.

' A. MILLS.

CARRIER POR SMALL ARMS FIXED AMMUNITION.

" APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1902.

NO MODEL.

TH: mams Param co. Pumuuwo.. msnmaron. n, c.

lllivirn Smarts Arnr Ormes.

ANSON MILLS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CARRIER FOR SMALL-ARMS FIXED ANlNlUNlTION.

:SPECIFICATlON- forming part of Letters Patent N o. 722,123, dated March3, 1903.

Application filed July 25, 1902. Serial No. 117,037. (No model.)

To all, w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANSON MILLS, of the United States Army, (retired,) acitizen of the United States, residing at Washington city, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Carrier forSmall-Arms Fixed Ammunition, of which the following is a specification.

The device which I have invented is intended more particularly for usein connection with magazine small-arms and is designed for the purposeof easy packing, distribution, and handling of cartridges.

It consists, essentially, of a pliable band provided with a plurality ofgroups of cartridgereceiving pockets, which are open at one end andclosed at the other. The pockets in each group equal in number thecartridges which compose a charge for the magazine-gun in connectionwith which they are used. The mouths of all the pockets composing agroup open toward one and the same edge of the band and the mouths ofthe pockets of any one group open toward the edge of the band oppositethat toward which the mouths of the pockets of the next adjoining groupopen. It is these features combined which characterize my invention. Thecarrier is preferably a multiply-woven fabric band provided with pocketsintegral therewith and closed at one end7 as set forth in LettersPatent'No.v 399,924, of March 19, 1889, and I prefer toV provide onlytwo groups of pockets and to bring together and permanently unite, bysewing or otherwise, the two ends of the band when the pockets'arefitted with cartridges and the carrier folded dat so as ,to bring onegroup opposite the other. The exposed heads of the cartridges of the onegroup will be opposite the covered points of the cartridges of the othergroup, and the cartridges in thev one group will be in the intersticesbetween cartridges in the other group. In this way a flat compactcartridge-package is secured in which the cartridges lie flat, occupythe least space possible, and are securely held in position. Thesepackages can be packed in quantity in large ammunition-boxes withoutdanger of displacement of individual cartridges and with minimum contactof metal with metal. In this way the practice now universally followedof putting up batches of loose cartridges-say twenty or more inindividual boxes-can be dispensed with and the annoyance and delayconsequent of the soldier handling these loose cartridges andtransferring them individually from the box to his belt can be obviated.The belt of the soldier can be 'woven with pockets, each of dimensionsto receive one or even two of my carriers and the task of filling hisbelt is then made comparatively easy. Moreover, in the packages theheads of each group of cartridges are held by the carrier in line and ina position in which they can readily be entered, one after the other,into the metallic guide-clips now frequently employed in connection withfirearms for facilitating the operation Ofcharging the magazine ofmagazinefirearms with cartridges.

In the accompanying drawings, to which I shall now refer for a betterunderstanding of my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of awoven-fabric carrier loaded with two groups of cartridges, five in eachgroup, and folded dat, so that the two groups are brought closetogether, the cartridges of the one group lying in the interval betweenthe cartridges of the other group. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of thesame. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the carrier empty.

The carrieris composed of a band A of thin pliable material providedwith groups of pockets a for reception of individual cartridges C. Theband, as hereinbefore said, is preferably a multiply-woven fabric bandhaving the pockets a integral therewith and closed along one edge of theband,as described in Letters Patent No. 399,924., of March 19, 1889.There are two groups of pockets a. The mouths of the p ockets of onegroup are at one edge of the band, and the mouths of the pockets of theother group are at the opposite end of the band, as clearly shown in thedrawings. The ends of the band are brought together and permanentlyunited by sewing or otherwise, as seen at x, the seam being upon theinside of the annular or endless band thus formed.

The advantages due to the construction described have been aboveindicated and need not be here amplified.

In conclusion I desire it to be understood mouths of the pockets of onegroup being at the edge of the band opposite that at which the mouths ofthe other group are located, 15 substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of July,1902.

ANSON MILLS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. E. FISHER, HOWARD M. SCAMMON.

